I suspect this forces a roster move this week to promote Eddie Pleasant from the PS with Carmichael the most likely to go unless we waste the returnable IR spot on Demps (which would be premature). Carmichael could easily slide though waivers and back to the PS so I'm betting he gets the axe. As much as it scares me, I'm betting Alan Ball becomes the de facto #3 safety with Demps out. It's just a crime that guy is on this roster instead of Troy Nolan, who wasn't my favorite, but is better than Ball.

As great as things have been for this defense thus far, is there any question that Brice McCain is the weak link? I'd venture to say that amongst the 10 longest pass plays from scrimmage, 7 have been on McCain who looks as slow and lost as he did in 2010 and simply has no ability to hang with a slot receiver man to man. He can probably hang against the Jets, but we need an answer before the Packers and Ravens come to town. I'm hoping the Demps injury at least puts Harris on the active roster with an opportunity to show what he can do. The Texans need to have a better depth option should anything happen to Joseph or Jackson as well, as McCain covering a #1 or #2 would be terrifying.

I'm telling you, if Phillips isn't going to ever be comfortable with Harris, Rick Smith needs to be exploring the trade market to make a move for a nickel. If Tracy Porter is still in JDRs doghouse in Denver, I'd be up for that or maybe the 0-4 Saints have seen enough of Patrick Robinson. Porter is a stretch and PR won't excite many, but considering McCain's physical limitations and backsliding play and that Harris can't even be activated over Shilo Keo, they have to be considered significant upgrades and I think they are over their heads as #2's but solid #3's. Of course, the Cowboys are still sitting with lame duck Mike Jenkins on their roster who hopefully gets torched a few times tonight. I guess the recently cut Jacque Reeves won't top any lists around here, huh?_________________

This could be an opportunity for us to call up Eddie Pleasant from the practice squad.
That's one possibility. Another is moving Ball to play some safety (since he has experience playing safety with the Cowboys) and call up Brandon Harris on the active roster._________________
^S/o to Kiltman for the amazing sig; RIP Jose Fernandez

This could be an opportunity for us to call up Eddie Pleasant from the practice squad.
That's one possibility. Another is moving Ball to play some safety (since he has experience playing safety with the Cowboys) and call up Brandon Harris on the active roster.

Wish I had thought about this and posted it an hour and half before you did. People learn with a frequency of three, so maybe this will do the trick._________________

Does anyone think there's any chance that the Texans throw a late round conditional pick at the Jets to bring Grimes back?

Not at all; We still have Davin Meggett to rely on. We move Forsett up to the #2 spot and have Meggett play the #3/3rd down role. Yeah, Grimes was the better between he and Meggett, but why move a pick when you have someone there who can do the exact same thing we'd expect Grimes to do, which is to take garbage carries late in the game?_________________

Does anyone think there's any chance that the Texans throw a late round conditional pick at the Jets to bring Grimes back?

Not at all; We still have Davin Meggett to rely on. We move Forsett up to the #2 spot and have Meggett play the #3/3rd down role. Yeah, Grimes was the better between he and Meggett, but why move a pick when you have someone there who can do the exact same thing we'd expect Grimes to do, which is to take garbage carries late in the game?

Because based on what I saw, Grimes could take on Tate's role, leap-frogging Forsett, and I would MUCH rather do that than move Forsett into the second runningback spot and rely on Meggett, who couldn't get carries in the preseason._________________